Academics
We prepare our students for university success with a challenging and diverse curriculum featuring a modern, Liberal Arts, Catholic education.
Liberal Arts Education
The focus of a Liberal Arts education is to liberate the mind and to prepare students to be independent and critical thinkers who embrace the diverse challenges of today’s world. Students are encouraged to take a wide breadth of courses in the humanities, mathematics, and sciences, thereby preparing them for further studies and future careers.
Grades 7-8 Intermediate Programme
Our intermediate academic programme offers students a uniquely tailored programme that prepares students academically for our university preparatory high school curriculum. Students are also provided with an opportunity to seamlessly transition socially into the high school setting. Grades 7-8 students participate in a digitally integrated programme that develops 21st-century learning skills.
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Deep Learning
Our programme is structured to prepare students for the challenges of our diverse and challenging world, including career paths that may not even exist yet.
As a member of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), SMCS enhances student learning by focusing on the 21st century global competencies of character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.
Our efforts are focused on four pillars, including leveraging digital technology, enhancing and expanding the learning environment, forming learning partnerships between the student, teacher, and community, and using a fusion of proven pedagogical practices and emerging innovative techniques.
Experiential Learning & Leadership
Experiential learning refers to learning in which students and educators engage in direct experience and focused reflection. The goal is to provide students with authentic, real-life learning opportunities which give them the chance to develop and apply their knowledge and skills as well as enhance their ability to make meaningful contributions to their community. Holistic education is at the very core of a Basilian education in that we seek to develop the whole person and provide growth opportunities.
By connecting a student’s learning in the classroom to the outside world, it gives him a greater sense of meaning and purpose and demonstrates how the learning experience is relevant to life. By engaging in real-life experiences, it provides a sense of autonomy and purpose.
Through our Community Engagement and Learning programme, students connect with professionals and engage in various practicums including law, architecture, engineering, robotics, computer science, business, and accounting. Each of these allows the student the chance to deepen and apply their knowledge and skills in a real-life environment.
Not all experiential learning occurs outside of the classroom. Through problem or project-based learning opportunities, students have the chance to apply their learning to real-world, authentic problems and use their skills to solve challenges as they might in the world beyond school.
Our Outdoor and Experiential Education programme encourages personal growth through cooperation, teamwork, and leadership in a safe and supportive atmosphere, empowering students to embrace challenges through a variety of experiences.
We believe it is important that our students feel both self-assured in their abilities and interests, as well as challenged to learn and grow. Through these programmes, we strive to foster a sense of belonging within our larger community by developing collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution skills, while emphasizing the values of care, respect, and integrity.
Each year, we offer six unique camp experiences for students across Grades 7-10 as well as a Leader-in-Training certification programme for senior students.
The most significant piece of experiential learning is student engagement. They are actively involved in learning about and addressing real problems rather than passively learning about content from a teacher. This is one of the most crucial aspects of developing future-ready leaders and learners.
Technology
We leverage digital technology in the classroom to accelerate, amplify, and add value to learning.
Students are encouraged to use the latest in technology to access content through research, but also to creatively share and collaborate with peers and the community.
In September 2021, St. Michael’s College School began a formal Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme where every student from Grades 9 to 12 will utilize a laptop or tablet computer at school daily.